Thursday, 10th June 2010
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 7
We continue to be advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic.
Click here for the IG General Advice Notice.
The Deepwater Horizon/Mississippi Canyon 252 National Incident Command (NIC) has issued an updated Executive Summary dated 10th June. This summary provides the status of ports and waterways located on or adjacent to the US Gulf of Mexico coast that have the potential to be affected by the incident.
Click here for a USCG Sector New Orleans update.
In the meantime the following websites continue to be of use:-
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/headline-oilspill.html
http://www.fmc.gov/home/DeepwaterHorizonOilSpillResources.asp
http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220
BP has provided a Claims and Procedures Fact Sheet at the link above.
As the situation is constantly changing vessels should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the US Coast Guard and follow any advice provided by local Pilots. Members should continue to liaise closely with their local agents who will also be able to assist with providing the latest information and updates.
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 6
We continue to be advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic.
Click here for the IG General Advice Notice.
We have now been provided with the following updates:-
The National Incident Command Maritime Transportation System's Executive Summary 16.
Amongst other things this document contains the status of ports in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, as well as a list of Hull Assessment and cleaning (DECON) stations.
USCG Sector New Orleans' Marine Safety Information Bulletin No. 106.
This provides a list of inbound and outbound Vessel Cleaning Stations.
In the meantime the following websites continue to be of use:-
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/headline-oilspill.html
http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220
http://www.d8externalaffairs.com/go/doc/2931/533387/#content
BP has provided a Claims and Procedures Fact Sheet at the link above.
As the situation is constantly changing vessels should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the US Coast Guard and follow any advice provided by local Pilots. Members should continue to liaise closely with their local agents who will also be able to assist with providing the latest information and updates.
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 5
We continue to be advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic.
Click here for the Mississippi River Maritime Association vessel cleaning notice concerning vessel decontamination stations in the New Orleans Sector.
The Secretary to the International Group of P&I Club's has circulated a general advice notice containing background information on BP liability for Deepwater Horizon claims and the decontamination of hulls.
Click here for the IG General Advice Notice.
The following websites continue to be of use:-
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/headline-oilspill.html
http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220
http://www.d8externalaffairs.com/go/doc/2931/533387/#content
BP has provided a Claims and Procedures Fact Sheet at the link above.
As the situation is constantly changing vessels should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the US Coast Guard and follow any advice provided by local Pilots. Members should continue to liaise closely with their local agents who will also be able to assist with providing the latest information and updates.
14 May 2010: DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - Briefing Note 4
We continue to be advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic.
The USCG advise that a decontamination station has now been established for vessels departing the lower Mississippi River which need cleaning prior to sailing to other ports. Please see the Marine Safety Information Bulletin 93 provided by the New Orleans Sector of the United States Coastguard.
A spreadsheet has been produced detailing known decontamination stations for the States of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Click here.
The locations of decontamination stations may be subject to change and therefore vessels should check with agents, US Coastguard and pilots for the very latest advice.
The Gulf States Maritime Association has now also provided a document which details vessel decontamination operations for the lower Mississippi River.
Safety zones are now being established in certain areas within the vicinity of decontamination stations or clean up operations. Vessels should strictly comply with any directions provided by US Coastguard when passing through or by such safety zones. Failure to comply with the United States Coastguard requirements may result in fines of up to US$32,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years or both. Please see Marine Safety Information Bulletins 96 and 97 provided by the New Orleans Sector of the United States Coastguard.
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 3
We continue to be advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic.
Please click here for Marine Safety Information Bulletin number 89 dated 4th May 2010 provided by the USCG New Orleans sector advising that a decontamination station has been established on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GIWW).
Please click here for Marine Safety Information Bulletin 3 - 10 dated 6th May issued by the Captain of the Port Mobile (COTP) Zone which contains advice on port status and decontamination sites.
According to the Alabama State Port Authorities (ASPA) update dated 5th May 2010 vessels are still required to submit Vessel Reporting Forms. Additionally, offshore decontamination stations have been established off Gulfport, Pascagoula and Mobile.
The Port of New Orleans (PNO) oil spill update number 6 dated 6th May 2010 advises that cleaning stations are now located at Boothville and Burrwood. According to this update vessels will be inspected on arrival at the Southwest pass to determine if they need to be cleaned. The Coast Guard advises that ships moving at a safe pace through the light oil sheen may not require cleaning. It is the intention that heavily oiled ships will be required to be cleaned at Boothville where vessels can anchor. Vessels exhibiting a light oil sheen may be required to be cleaned at Burrwood, while the vessel is in motion.
We recommend that all vessels crew inspect hulls for visible sheening and if present inform the Pilot when he/she boards the vessel so that if deemed appropriate the vessel can be moved to one of the decontamination stations now established.
According to the Gulf State's Maritime Association's (GSMA) update number 59 dated 6th May the issue of the need for decontamination of vessels leaving US ports is now being considered. We shall provide further updates in due course. Update 57 dated 6th May provides details of proposed procedures at decontamination stations for vessels entering the Lower Mississippi River.
In the event that a vessel's hull is contaminated with oil upon leaving a US port our correspondents have provided the following advice:
" It is our understanding that vessels departing from U.S. Gulf ports are being careful to avoid the oil spill zone / area. In the event that a vessel's hull is contaminated with oil upon leaving a U.S. port, it is our further understanding that at this time it is being left to the vessel to clean its hull, e.g., through the use of its own water hoses. In such cases, the vessel should document well -- through photographs, video, Notes of Protest, log book entries, etc. -- the extent of the fouling, the time / expenses incurred in cleaning the hull, etc., and submit the claim to BP. As you are aware, vessels trading from the U.S. Gulf should be careful to ensure before entering other ports (in the U.S. + foreign countries) that their hulls are not fouled so that the oil pollution laws / regulations of those ports / countries are complied with. "
Correspondents also advise that at this time there are no specific advisories or guidance for vessels departing the US other than the information regarding the spills location/related information provided on VHF channel 16.
As the situation is constantly changing vessels should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the US Coast Guard and follow any advice provided by local Pilots. Members should continue to liaise closely with their local agents who will also be able to assist with providing the latest information and updates.
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 2
We are presently advised that all ports in the vicinity of the oil spill remain open for commercial traffic. Please click here for update number 4 from the Port of New Orleans.
Please click here for an update from the US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Further updates regarding any CBP port closures can be found at the following website http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/bus_resumption/maritime/ .
However, our correspondents advise that any commercial vessel that has transited through the oil spill area may not be allowed to enter the Port of Mobile unless the Port Authority receives written notification from agents/the Master of the vessel that the hull has been examined and is free from visible oil on any portion of the hull. Please click here for Alabama Port Authority Harbour Master's e-mail of the 30 April and click here for the "DEEP WATER HORIZON Incident Vessel Assessment Reporting Form".
Two decontamination stations have now been established on the lower Mississippi River. Stations are located near the "The Jump" at Venice, LA and Boothville, LA in the vicinity of Fort Jackson. The US Coastguard advise that arriving vessels should proceed to one of the two decontamination stations if there is a visible sheen emanating from the ship's hull. Vessel cleaning will be co-ordinated by the New Orleans Decon Group via VHF channel 16, with the pilots directing the vessel's movement once it has been determined that the vessel is actively sheening.
Further, the US Coastguard advised that these decontamination stations are only intended for those vessels which are sheening, and which therefore must be cleaned. Vessels wishing to be cleaned which do not meet this criteria will have to co-ordinate their own cleaning and seek reimbursement through the claims process if they believe that they were oiled by the current spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We would recommend that for any Member who is not directed to one of the de-contamination stations and considers that the vessel needs to be cleaned as a result of this incident should contact the Club's local correspondents for further assistance. Any claim should be properly recorded and documented.
It is extremely unlikely that any vessels departing US ports will be entitled to the benefit of the decontamination stations. Where vessels are outbound from US ports it is possible problems may arise on arrival at destination if the hull is fouled. Under these circumstances we would recommend that vessels inform local authorities prior to arrival at destination ports and contact the Club's local correspondents for advice to minimise problems that might be encountered.
Vessels intending to transit the area should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the US Coastguard and follow any advice provided by local pilots. Members should continue to liaise closely with their local agents for the latest information and updates.
DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT - BRIEFING NOTE 1
Please click here for the Marine Safety Information Bulletin provided to our correspondents on Friday 30th April concerning navigation issues in the affected area. At the moment the ports in the vicinity of the spill remain open for commercial traffic.
Vessels transiting the area should be guided by the latest updates and bulletins provided by the USCG and follow the advice provided by local pilots. Subject to the advice of local pilots and the USCG, and where possible/safe to do so vessels should be kept underway to reduce the effects of potential fouling.
Where vessels are outbound from US ports it is possible problems may arise on arrival at destination ports if the hull is fouled. Under such circumstances we would recommend that vessels inform local authorities at destination ports before arrival to minimise problems that might be encountered.
For the latest information regarding the situation in the US Members should make enquiries with their local agents and the USCG. In the meantime the following websites may be of some use:-
At present we are advised that vessel's requiring hull cleaning may be entitled to claim for the costs of cleaning fouled hulls against BP/Transocean and/or any fund which might be established by them.